Kiwifruit is a fruit that is not only delicious but also contains a number of attributes and health benefits. From digestive health, to vitality and metabolic health, to everyday good health, the benefits of green and gold kiwifruit are numerous.

1. Kiwifruit and Digestive Health

Digestive disorders are common world-wide and can negatively affect quality of life.

Good to know:

Constipation affects around 15 percent of adults in Western countries1.

Partly, these disorders result from lifestyle factors such as diet, hydration and exercise, from chronic illnesses (e.g. diabetes) and from aging.

Good to know:

A large percentage of chronic diseases can be easily preventedthrough diet and lifestyle changes2:

colon cancer (70%)

stroke (70%)

coronary heart disease (80%)

type 2 diabetes (90 %)

Green kiwifruit has been found to improve digestive health functions at both the gastric (stomach) and intestinal levels.

Good to know:

Green kiwifruit is high in fibre with both insoluble and soluble types at a ratio of 4:1. The fibre in green kiwifruit has a high capacity for retaining water and thus creating larger and softer stools, facilitating intestinal transit through your digestive system3.

The natural digestive enzyme actinidin, occurs only in kiwifruit and improves digestive comfort by increasing the breakdown of proteins and facilitating gastric digestion (emptying of the stomach)4.

There is growing evidence that green kiwifruit modulates colonic microbiota which can result in increased intestinal health and overall well-being5.

Kiwifruit is low FODMAP6.

More research on the digestive health benefits of kiwifruit is underway to demonstrate the laxative effects of green kiwifruit.

The primary objective of the clinical trial “The effect of Zespri Green Kiwifruit on digestive and gut health functions” – which is on-going in New Zealand, Japan and Italy- is to determine the efficacy of kiwifruit as a treatment for the relief of constipation and for reduction in gastrointestinal discomfort. In each participating country, 20 healthy people, 20 people with IBS with constipation (IBS-C) and 20 people with functional constipation (FC) will be recruited. The aim is to obtain a health claim approved by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).The NZ results of this clinical multi-country intervention study are expected in the course of 2016.

2. Kiwifruit and Vitamin C

Vitamin C is an essential vitamin that cannot be synthesised by the human body. People need to get vitamin C through their diet on a daily basis.

Good to know:

Vitamin C is found in every part of the body (e.g. skin, bones, muscles, brain), but is found at higher levels in the immune system7.

Vitamin C has an important role for the proper development and function of the body.

Some examples:

Vitamin C contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue8

Vitamin C plays an important role in the functioning of the immune system9,10